Prosecutor: Alleged thief violated bail POSTED: 02/25/08, 12:01 AM EST | UPDATED: ON 02/25/2008NORRISTOWN – A former Berks County man awaiting trial for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from the Pottstown area dental business where he worked should be locked up for violating bail conditions, prosecutors contend.Michael Grover Cowan, 34, formerly of the 800 block of Summit Chase Drive, West Reading, failed to appear for two scheduled court hearings and was arrested for additional crimes while free on bail, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Parisi alleged in court papers.The defendant has a history of criminal behavior. The defendant has been arrested and charged in additional incidents after he was granted bail, Parisi wrote in a court document in which he asked that Cowan’s bail be revoked.

Parisi said given Cowan’s alleged bail violations, no combination of conditions will assure the safety of the community.

A hearing on Parisi’s request to revoke Cowan’s bail could occur as early as next week.

Cowan, most recently of New Kensington, which is near Pittsburgh, currently remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

Cowan, who was formerly employed as a treatment plan coordinator at American Dental Service of Pottstown, was initially arrested in August 2006 by Lower Pottsgrove Police and charged with forgery and theft by deception. In that case, authorities alleged Cowan placed his name as the payee on a $4,000 check that was submitted to the company from a patient for dental services.

Cowan allegedly cashed the altered check and retained the $4,000 for himself.

As part of Cowan’s duties while working at American Dental at 1867 East High St., he was responsible for establishing payment plans and collecting payments for services rendered to patients, authorities alleged. In his position, Cowan verified insurance coverage, established credit for patients via loans and collected cash and checks.

After his arrest, Cowan was released after posting the required 10 percent of $5,000 bail to await further court action.

Cowan was re-arrested in February 2007 and charged with additional forgery and theft-related offenses in connection with allegations he stole more than $100,000 from American Dental and stole the identities of several customers between May 2005 and July 2006, according to court documents filed by Lower Pottsgrove detectives.

The additional alleged thefts were uncovered after company officials conducted an internal audit of all accounts handled by Cowan.

This internal review uncovered numerous patient accounts the defendant altered in the course of committing thefts from the company, Lower Pottsgrove Detective Sgt. Michael Foltz wrote in the arrest affidavit.

The alleged thefts totaled $102,424, according to court papers.

After the second arrest, Cowan’s bail was modified and set at $25,000 unsecured, allowing Cowan to remain free.

However, while free on bail, Cowan was arrested Sept. 22, 2007, by Amity police in Berks County for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Amity police alleged Cowan had a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent as he drove eastbound on Route 422 at Monocacy Creek Road. The legal blood-alcohol content for driving is 0.08 percent.

Court documents alleged Cowan failed to appear for his preliminary hearing in the Amity case. On Jan. 31, Cowan failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in Montgomery County Court on the pending theft charges, Parisi alleged.

A lawyer representing Cowan allegedly told the judge that Cowan lived near Pittsburgh and was having difficulty making it to court on time, according to court papers.

Parisi alleged Cowan has violated conditions of his release.

Content retrieved from: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/

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Man who stole more than $100K from dental company gets jail

POSTED: 12/16/08, 12:01 AM EST | UPDATED: ON 12/16/2008

NORRISTOWN – A former West Reading man is headed to state prison for stealing more than $100,000 from a Lower Pottsgrove dental business where he worked.

Grover Michael Cowan, 35, formerly of the 800 block of Summit Chase Drive, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to two to seven years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received in connection with incidents that occurred between May 2005 and July 2006 while he worked for American Dental Service of Pottstown.

Judge William J. Furber Jr., who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Cowan to pay $102,424 in restitution to the dental business, which is located in the 1800 block of East High Street.

“He’s a con man. He’s been conning people his whole life in order to steal from them,” argued Assistant District Attorney Christopher Parisi, who sought a state prison sentence against Cowan. “When you’re dealing with someone like that, the only way to put an end to that activity is to get a state sentence that sends a message that we aren’t going to tolerate it.”

Cowan also admitted that his arrest in the theft case represented a violation of the probation and parole he received in December 2003 after he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by deception in connection with $1,500 that went missing from Today’s Furniture and Bedding in Jenkintown where Cowan had once worked.

“The con has ended and Mr. Cowan is now a resident of the state prison,” Parisi said.

Cowan, who most recently claimed he lived in New Kensington, which is near Pittsburgh, was represented by defense lawyer Gerald Ingram.

Cowan, who was formerly employed as a treatment plan coordinator at American Dental Service of Pottstown, was initially arrested in August 2006 by Lower Pottsgrove Police and charged with forgery and theft by deception. In that case, authorities alleged Cowan placed his name as the payee on a $4,000 check that was submitted to the company from a patient for dental services.

Cowan allegedly cashed the altered check and retained the $4,000 for himself.

As part of Cowan’s duties while working at American Dental he was responsible for establishing payment plans and collecting payments for services rendered to patients, authorities alleged. In his position, Cowan verified insurance coverage, established credit for patients via loans and collected cash and checks.

Cowan was re-arrested in February 2007 and charged with additional forgery and theft-related offenses in connection with allegations he stole more than $100,000 from American Dental and stole the identities of several customers between May 2005 and July 2006, according to court documents filed by Lower Pottsgrove detectives.

The additional alleged thefts were uncovered after company officials conducted an internal audit of all accounts handled by Cowan.

The alleged thefts totaled $102,424, according to court papers. Authorities said Cowan spent the money and none of it was recovered.

Testimony and court documents revealed that Cowan still is awaiting court action on other theft-related charges in Westmoreland County.